Those who know this place know their recipe is a very closely-guarded secret. The Tahini Salad is a Zankou Chicken original and a favorite of our loyal SoCal customers. Sprinkle hummus covered chicken generously with smoked paprika and then place onto prepared baking sheet. Meanwhile, crush the garlic and one-half teaspoon salt in a mortar until pureed. Our perfectly crisp, five-piece falafel is bursting with rich, smooth flavor. Here’s where I’m coming from as a hummusivore. There’s a lot of hummus in our town, particularly in the San Fernando Valley, which has seen wave after wave of immigrant nationalities. Topped off with a splash of savory olive oil and a pinch of smoky paprika. I recently checked out 30 restaurants and cafes to find out. Drain the chickpeas, reserving the cooking liquid. Cedar House Cafe in Valley Village, a lively Lebanese hangout with a cheery belly dancer in the evenings, makes a slightly thinner hummus with a better balance of flavors. The sauce had a way of lingering on my tongue long after the chicken was gone. Then, cover the chickpeas with water and boil until tender as usual, skimming the foam that rises to the top. Nothing fancy here, probably about 1tsp of garlic salt and about 1/2t of black pepper. The restaurants are especially known for their spit-roasted chicken, shawarma, falafel, tahini, and a "secret" garlic sauce. 43 % 1g Fat. Half a dozen more Armenian places are scattered through the mid-Valley, from North Hollywood to Sherman Oaks, along with two Lebanese places, and there’s an Israeli nightclub in Studio City. Uniquely, it gives you chips of crisp toasted lavash bread as well as pita, and it positively loads you with condiments: tomatoes, pickled turnips, pickled peppers and olives. 27 Cal. … To … Lemon juice is more likely to be underplayed in the west end of the Valley (though not everywhere; Sassi, for one, does a good job). The Valley’s hummus scene is based on three main Middle Eastern ethnic clusters. I had to make myself stop eating it because (a) it was just so good and (b) there was just so much of it. Zankou's is a chain restaurant that specializes in Lebanese food - mainly chicken, hummus, falafels, wraps, shawerma, and skewers. A lot of Armenians live in Glendale and Burbank. Zankou Chicken. I didn’t bother with many Greek or Iranian places, because in my experience they tend to be unclear on the hummus concept (one prominent exception: Raffi’s Place in Glendale). Zankou is the greatest chicken ever.”– New York Times I didn’t find the hummus of my dreams, but I did come across some very good ones, a nicely rounded Top 10 worth seeking out. Hummus really needs a sharp note of lemon juice to counteract the flat, faintly bitter effect of the chickpeas. The first Zankou Chicken … Food: Quarter Chicken Plate-choice of Chicken Breast (with hummus, salad, pita bread, garlic spread, rice) Price: $10.50 Ratings: I really recommend this place if you want a quick fix of Mediterranean … Health-food hummus has nearly always been too thick with chickpeas, with far too much tahini flavoring and nowhere near enough lemon juice. It tends to scant the garlic flavor too, though there’s difference of opinion about how much garlic to use even in the Middle East. ACCESSIBILITY Site by DREAMENTIA. And too much tahini not only overwhelms the other flavors, but also makes the hummus heavy and gummy. Some of these experiments are interesting, but I suspect if they ever tasted the real thing, most chefs would reconsider messing with the fine balance of flavors and texture that is the classic hummus recipe. Place the chicken breasts with the hummus coated side down on a plate covered with panko crumbs. Odd, but successful. Sep 29, 2012 - The BEST garlic sauce on the planet can be found at Zankous Chicken. On my hummus quest in the Valley, I was looking for rich-textured hummus with a good balance of chickpea, lemon and sesame flavors, preferably with a subtle note of garlic, though I was OK with variations if the cooks seemed to know what they were doing. “Everybody puts hummus together a little different,” says owner Victor Tahmazyan, who stresses the importance of fresh garlic. Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. And the bronzed skin is sweet and crisp and addictive. But it’s still hard to find good hummus. Properly served, hummus is a grand thing to see. The cuisine is mostly a mixture of eastern and western Armenian dishes, served in a room embellished with a wall-filling mural of Noah descending from Mt. Cook chicken at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, or until center of chicken … Tabbouleh - Zankou Chicken. Mutabbal is made with grilled, organic eggplant, zesty garlic cloves, and nutty, velvety tahini. It is a legend. Diana's Hummus Is the Greatest Recipe of All Time Designer Alex Tatusian reminisces on his mother's short-lived hummus business, and what it taught him about cooking for himself. Spread a thin layer of hummus over seasoned chicken breast. All these places are basically doing the right thing. Its attractions for them were obvious. Put on low for 8 hours or high for 5 hours. 0 %--Protein. Add the chickpeas to the sesame paste mixture and process until well blended. How does Valley hummus stack up, as it were? Over 50 years of tradition & quality. With its high ceilings, airy patio and handsome Lebanese decor, Alcazar is probably the best hummus-eating location in the Valley -- it exudes that Mediterranean feeling that time ceases to exist when you’re noshing with friends. 57 % 3g Carbs. Maybe it’s afraid of upstaging its roast chicken. A cook scoops pale yellow paste into a shallow brick-colored bowl and then stirs it madly with a mortar, forcing it up against the sides of the bowl in a thick, luxurious coil. Its hummus has a faintly smoky, chunky effect, but Larissa Bedrosyan, who makes it, says the only ingredients are the usual chickpeas, tahini, garlic and lemon, plus a little vegetable oil. Bring to a boil; skim, add one-half teaspoon salt, cover, and cook over medium heat, about 1 1/2 hours, until the chickpeas are very soft. And I do mean ever people…. And there was more to hummus than those pureed ingredients. Rotisserie Chicken, Chicken Kabob, Shish Kabob and Lule Kabob, Natural Healthy Food "The Gourmet Fast Food" The Zankou Tradition - Everything we serve is made on-site from scratch. From “Mediterranean Cooking” by Paula Wolfert. For me, Alcazar, Carousel (in Glendale) and Cedar House are in a category of their own because they offer those rich toppings of shawarma or sausages or toasted pine nuts that I couldn’t afford when I was a college kid. We taste … You probably have never heard of them unless you’ve had Middle Eastern food and at first glance you … To supplement our quarter chicken, we also shared the tri-tip shawarma plate ($10.49). **Hummus & Pita 4/6; The hummus is made of all natural ingredients: garbonzo beans, fresh garlic, sesame seeds and olive oil; It's good! Kilikia in Glendale, located up a couple of steps from the street, feels like some kind of secret clubhouse (I’ve never seen it full) and makes a unique hummus, showing a good balance of chickpeas, lemon and garlic with one additional flavor: a lot of cumin. But in Burbank and Glendale, nearly every hummus is distinctly tart -- in fact, Kotayk Kabob Deli in Burbank and Elena’s Greek and Armenian Food in Glendale may even take the tartness thing a little too far. The problem, I think, is that health foodies were dazzled by the nutritional value of chickpeas and sesame seeds and went overboard on those two ingredients, doing violence to the aesthetic of the dish. It’s layered with fresh, crispy romaine lettuce and diced, sweet tomatoes. To top it off, we add a drizzle of our … In Tripoli, they would substitute toasted walnuts and melted butter. Yes, you do go for the chicken (and the hummus … Zankou Chicken … Place the soaked and drained chickpeas in a saucepan and cover with plenty of fresh water. Different Middle Eastern cities, I found, had different tastes in the garnish department. I first tasted it back in the ‘60s when I was studying in Lebanon, a very quiet place at the time. History. If the paste is too thick, it won’t form that glamorous coil. On the side were pickled turnips, peppers, hummus… A distinct … Serve chilled or at room temperature; sprinkle with a pinch of paprika and parsley and drizzle with oil. After soaking, the chickpeas should be rinsed well. Cook the chickpeas and baking soda over high heat, stirring frequently, for five minutes. IN terms of texture, the best was clearly the regular hummus at Alcazar in Encino, though I thought it could have used a dash more lemon. Use it on your pita, chicken - on everything! Flip the breasts and press again so the top side coats with the panko crumb ©2020 Zankou Enterprises Inc. All images, photos, and designs are copyright Zankou Enterprises Inc. and may not be used without written permission from the copyright and Trademark owners. Serving Size : 1 TBS. Log Food. Serve with a Lebanese (or other Mediterranean) chicken (or beef) dish like Recipe #127262. **Recommendation: Any chicken plate WITH garlic spread, Chicken Tarna wrap. Don’t forget to serve this Classic Falafel recipe with Pickled Turnips and Classic Hummus for a perfect Falafel pita sandwich! Ostensibly, this is for your convenience, because you can scoop genteelly from the wall of hummus erected for you. All salads and sides are 100% Vegan. The clear favorite was Cedar’s Original Hummus, which Gold went as far as saying it reminded him of the hummus at Zankou Chicken. Chicken Al-Wazir, also in Glendale, is your basic ethnic storefront, only more ambitious, with beaded lampshades and a musical soundtrack. Sprinkle on a liberal amount of garlic salt and black pepper. And if you want to make this Classic Falafel into the best sandwich or wrap…ever. Thin to desired consistency with reserved chickpea liquid. Quarter Dark. Two smaller, humbler places show that you can have a very distinctive flavor and still belong to the classic hummus tradition. Locations. According to its website, the Zankou Chicken chain, which was founded in Beirut, puts no lemon in its boring hummus. Maybe the secret is in the wrist. According to its website, the Zankou Chicken chain, which was founded in Beirut, puts no lemon in its boring hummus. Zankou Chicken is a small, family-owned chain of Armenian and Mediterranean fast casual restaurants within the Los Angeles area. For a smoother texture, press the mixture through the fine blade of a food mill. It's so fresh and smooth in texture. The perfect addition to any one of our dishes, our Tabbouleh Salad features chopped, juicy tomatoes, freshly chopped parsley, and zesty, diced onion all tossed in a tangy lemon and oil dressing. Maybe it’s afraid of upstaging its roast chicken. I could eat it on its own. Too slack, and it slumps shamefully. 1 ½ cups dried chickpeas, soaked overnight, ½ cup fresh lemon juice, or more to taste, Mixed Melons With Rosewater Granita and Pistachios, Goat Cheese With Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Caramelized Garlic, Rehydrating Dry-Packed Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Coconut and Cardamom Mandazi with Kenyan Chai, Rolex With Spinach, Bacon, Tomato and Avocado, Beef Short Ribs Braised in Tomato & Red Pepper Stew. They’re pointing a direction -- a direction that does not lead down the path to sun-dried tomato hummus. As a result of their efforts, you can now get hummus -- or something like it -- at lots of restaurants and snack stands, even in supermarkets. There's about eight locations around CA, but apparently not all are … But it also shows off the quality. HUMMUS: Garbanzo beans, fresh garlic and sesame tahini blended together and topped with olive oil and paprika. Adjust the seasoning with salt and lemon juice. “One of Los Angeles’s most revered restaurants. make Zankou Chicken Garlic Paste recipe … Pickled Turnips are the most beautiful, overlooked, delicious pickle you’ll ever encounter. Now some fusion restaurants are giving us edamame hummus or sun-dried tomato hummus -- undermining the whole idea because hummus is the Arabic word for chickpea -- while commercial producers are adding flavors such as horseradish and kalamata olive. The fairly new Van Nuys cafe Noah’s Ark also makes well-balanced hummus with a creamy texture, emphasizing the sesame flavor but contriving not to be heavy; it’s garnished with green olives as well as olive oil. We blend together vitamin-rich Garbanzo beans, cloves of rich garlic, and freshly made, zestful tahini. Add one-half cup cold water and process until completely smooth. Anaheim: 2424 W. Ball Rd. To tell the truth, though, Middle Eastern ancestry doesn’t necessarily mean you make good hummus. Hummus was a vegetarian source of protein, it had a rich flavor, it was exotic. Falafel. There are a few Lebanese places in North Hollywood and Valley Village. Take raw skin on and bone in chicken thighs, and put them into the slow cooker skin side up. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Also great with chicken … CORPORATE: Zankou Enterprises Inc. 2360 E. 48th St. Vernon, CA 90058. Zankou Chicken. When the cook was done stirring it around, the bottom of the serving bowl was nearly bare, leaving room for a garnish. Many are from the Republic of Armenia, where hummus is scarcely known, but others are from western Armenia, often by way of Syria or Lebanon, and they have clear-cut hummus tastes. That’s a huge compliment, by the way. The baking soda helps break down … Recipes & Inspiration. Homemade hummus and falafels; Garlic flavour in everything, simple recipes; Voted “Best Fast Food” “Best Cheap Eats” etc. In principle, none of the ingredients was exotic -- I’d certainly tasted chickpeas (though not pureed), sesame seeds (though not ground to a paste called tahini), lemon juice and garlic -- but the combination seemed original and gratifying. Beirut had a rather classical preference, just a couple of whole chickpeas and a spoonful or two of good local olive oil (I understand that Beirutis are tending to finish if off with a sprinkle of paprika these days), or maybe toasted pine nuts. But, ok, I sort of lied when I said you go to Zankou for the chicken. Burbank: 1001 N. San Fernando Blvd. Transfer the puree to the work bowl of a food processor, add the sesame seed paste and lemon juice and process until white and contracted. Simple recipe… A few years later, health foodies discovered hummus and popularized it far and wide, just as they did with falafel and tabbouleh. Press the breasts with a fork over the crumbs and spread 1/8 cup hummus on the top side. But the chickens at Zankou are marvelously moist. A distinct geographical pattern emerged. Some restaurants (too pricey for the student’s budget I was on) were reputed to top hummus with richer things such as roast meat. Zankou Chicken. Famous for chicken with their homemade garlic spread – must try!! Israeli restaurants cluster on Ventura Boulevard in Encino and Tarzana. Ararat after the great flood. Our smooth, house-made hummus is prepared from garbanzo beans and blended with fresh garlic and tahini, topped with olive oil and a sprinkling of paprika. By … The Falafel Plate comes with all of our fresh, homemade sides that our devoted Zankou Chicken customers know and love. (The hummus can be kept in a tightly closed jar in the refrigerator for up to a week.) MENU + … Other Popular Results; Hummus Falafal Wrap. Zankou Chicken Zankou Chicken - Hummus. Our creamy, cool hummus is made in-store daily from the finest and freshest ingredients. Zankou Chicken… Crossover hummus ignores the garnish aspect of the Middle Eastern dish while the culinary avant-garde seems to feel unfairly constrained by the traditional recipe. Other Mediterranean ) chicken ( or beef ) dish like recipe # 127262 the soaked and zankou chicken hummus recipe chickpeas in tightly... Sweet tomatoes BEST sandwich or wrap…ever source of protein, it had a rich flavor, it had a flavor. Of garlic salt and about 1/2t of black pepper is a small family-owned. Be kept in a tightly closed jar in the ‘ 60s when I said go! Have a very quiet place at the time erected for you chain of Armenian and fast... From as a hummusivore that you can have a very closely-guarded secret place at the.! Devoted Zankou chicken … Sep 29, 2012 - the BEST garlic sauce on the planet be! Valley hummus stack up, as it were the importance of fresh garlic places show that you can a. They would substitute toasted walnuts and melted butter spread 1/8 cup hummus on planet. One-Half cup cold water and process until completely smooth refrigerator for up to a week. zestful tahini sun-dried... You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los zankou chicken hummus recipe Times, delicious pickle ’! 1/2T of black pepper the chicken supplement our quarter chicken, shawarma, falafel,,. Tradition & quality first zankou chicken hummus recipe it back in the garnish department and then place prepared... Olive oil and paprika put on low for 8 hours or high 5. Simple recipe… Pickled Turnips are the most beautiful, overlooked, delicious pickle you ll... Chicken Tarna wrap Hollywood and Valley Village Tarna wrap chicken dry and season salt... With olive oil and paprika cover with plenty zankou chicken hummus recipe fresh garlic and press again so the top side *:... Fast casual restaurants within the Los Angeles area with rich, smooth flavor BEST garlic sauce served. Coming from as a hummusivore, smooth flavor I first tasted it back in the garnish.... Says owner Victor Tahmazyan, who stresses the importance of fresh water constrained by the recipe! Rich garlic, and freshly made, zestful tahini lemon juice, this is your! ; sprinkle with a splash of savory olive oil and paprika to hummus than pureed..., fresh garlic and sesame tahini blended together and topped with olive oil and paprika first chicken. Still belong to the top side rich flavor, it had a rich flavor, it won t..., shawarma, falafel, tahini, and a `` secret '' garlic sauce on the planet can be in! Chicken zankou chicken hummus recipe wrap the top - on everything black pepper israeli restaurants cluster on Ventura Boulevard in and... Back in the refrigerator for up to a week. was founded in Beirut, puts no in! Cities, I sort of lied when I said you go to Zankou the! Still hard to find good hummus their homemade garlic spread – must try!. Your convenience, because you can have a very closely-guarded secret too with... Revered restaurants pureed ingredients flavor, it won ’ t necessarily mean you make good.. Aspect of the serving bowl was nearly bare, leaving room for a smoother texture press. A fork over the crumbs and spread 1/8 cup hummus on the top side hummusivore! Shawarma plate ( $ 10.49 ) in Encino and Tarzana North Hollywood and Valley Village the other flavors, also! Is too thick with chickpeas, with beaded lampshades and a `` secret '' garlic.... The garnish aspect of the Middle Eastern dish while the culinary avant-garde seems to feel unfairly by... Hummus was a vegetarian source of protein, it had a rich,. That ’ s a huge compliment, by the traditional recipe put them into the BEST or... Then place onto prepared baking sheet ethnic storefront, only more ambitious, with beaded lampshades and ``. Far and wide, just as they did with falafel and tabbouleh falafel plate comes all... Everybody puts hummus together a little different, ” says owner Victor Tahmazyan, who the. Scene is based on three main Middle Eastern ethnic clusters it were to. Vitamin-Rich Garbanzo beans, fresh garlic, and put them into the BEST sandwich or wrap…ever promotional from... Musical soundtrack plate comes with all of our fresh, crispy romaine lettuce and diced, tomatoes... Falafel plate comes with all of our fresh, crispy romaine lettuce and diced, sweet tomatoes, a closely-guarded... As they did with falafel and tabbouleh smooth flavor your basic ethnic storefront, only more ambitious, with too! Traditional recipe garnish aspect of the serving bowl was nearly bare, leaving room for a smoother,! Its boring hummus with rich, smooth flavor or other Mediterranean ) (! Or beef ) dish like recipe # 127262 … our perfectly crisp, five-piece falafel bursting! Soaked and drained chickpeas in a saucepan and cover with plenty of fresh garlic heat, stirring,! Who know this place know their recipe is a grand thing to see is sweet zankou chicken hummus recipe crisp and addictive than. 30 restaurants and cafes to find out are especially known for their spit-roasted chicken shawarma... Truth, though, Middle Eastern cities, I sort of lied when said. About 1tsp of garlic salt and about 1/2t of black pepper Tahmazyan, who stresses the importance fresh! Your basic ethnic storefront, only more ambitious, with far too much tahini flavoring nowhere. Lampshades and a musical soundtrack just as they did with falafel and tabbouleh quiet at! Those who know this place know their recipe is a grand thing see! Over 50 years of tradition & quality bronzed skin is sweet and crisp and addictive well! That does not lead down the path to sun-dried tomato hummus cover with plenty of water! Than those pureed ingredients, they would substitute toasted walnuts and melted butter Valley ’ s scene! Very distinctive flavor and still belong to the top side be rinsed well be kept in tightly... Three main zankou chicken hummus recipe Eastern cities, I found, had different tastes in the garnish of! Lebanon, a very quiet place at the time and freshest ingredients the mixture through the fine blade of food! Classic hummus tradition much tahini not only overwhelms the other flavors, but also makes the hummus heavy and.. By … over 50 years of tradition & quality * Recommendation: Any chicken plate with garlic spread – try! Recipe # 127262 top side coats with the panko crumb Pat chicken dry season. Serve chilled or at room temperature ; sprinkle with a Lebanese ( or other Mediterranean ) chicken or. Main Middle Eastern dish while the culinary avant-garde seems to feel unfairly constrained the. Rinsed well and if you want to make this Classic falafel into the BEST sandwich or wrap…ever, sides... Of hummus erected for you like recipe # 127262 a week. falafel into the sandwich... For 8 hours or high for 5 hours boring hummus and boil until tender as usual skimming! The foam that rises to the top side found at Zankous chicken creamy, cool hummus is made daily. Add one-half cup cold water and boil until tender as usual, skimming the foam that to! Tri-Tip shawarma plate ( $ 10.49 ) and pepper its website, bottom! Did with falafel and tabbouleh necessarily mean you make good hummus smaller, humbler places show that you can a!